Quote from ExplosiveCarnage >>

It is not a spell. It does not have spell components, a casting time, a spell level, nada. It is a magical attack I'll grant you, but spell is much more specific than "magic".

Antimagic Field blocks more than just spells. "No one can cast spells, take Magic actions, or create other magical effects inside the aura, and those things can’t target or otherwise affect anything inside it. Magical properties of magic items don’t work inside the aura or on anything inside it."

So Eldritch Burst circumnavigates things like Counterspell and Greater Magic Resistance, but is a magical effect (in my book), so would be effected by Antimagic.

 Are you talking about Eldritch Blast? Eldritch Blast is indeed a spell... it is a cantrip. It is found in the spells category, requires a "ranged spell attack" and does have components (V, S). "The spell creates more than one beam when you reach higher levels..." etc. etc. etc.

I just made this comment about the Beholder... I recall them being more intelligent. Part of a master of manipulation's ability is not only Charisma, but a high intelligence as well. 

Quote from VersusChaos >>

Well. I guess Magic missile work on this new version of him at least. But damn, that version of the magic resistance is so weird. Clearly prefeared old version.

And I liked the way of Rakasha being not real devils anymore, who dont revive in the nine hells when slained, but could make themself pass for more human... Well, i will probably just continue to use my old ruling on this point...

And also, with the new ruling of counterspell, that means he cant get counterspelled even by using a 9th level spell slot....

Rakshasa could revive in the Nine Hells in 2014 too. It was just in the flavour text rather than the stat block.

It's an overall improvement, making them auto succeed instead of straight up immune is better, but it's still such a "f you" to spellcasters that it pretty much isn't playable. and changing it to all spells is just weird - "oh, a 9th level Blade of Disaster or Imprisonment? nah, I'm built different". I get wanting to give them something beside a simple damage attack, but why do you have to give everything AoE's? they're already supposed to be master manipulators that never fight alone, why not choose to reflect that in their abilities.

also, ik this is nitpicking, but the old vulnerability (to Good aligned characters) made for cool roleplay and meaningful lore, while the new one is a niche "oh no! you've read my statblock!" weakness that just doesn't make sense when you actually think about it.

This actual real world lore of Rakshasa is that one was slain by the hero using a crossbow that was somehow blessed I believe with holy water.  So like the vampire dnd has taken in the real world story of it. Back in 3rd a rakshasa could be one shot if shot by a blessed crossbow bolt.  So I think this more lines up with the actual lore.

This monster is so broken it's insulting.  So, a 20th lv cleric wielding a mace couldn't hurt this with physical Or magical attacks, and even if they turned it it would immediately regenerate with a new body at full stats?  Am I missing something here?  This is so overpowered it's disgusting.

Quote from JazzyBassy >>

It’s crazy how all of these fiends with Plane Shift and Fiendish Restoration basically have two lives per day in the material plane by RAW, more lives the more Planeshifts they have. Since the new body is instant, they can come back whenever their turn is up with an action. This means double HP for someone like the Rakshasa, with the option of tormenting the party twice a day. It makes Planeshifting to their home plane on the same adventuring day a must.

IMO I preferred when the restoration happened after a range of time, it fits more with the narratives that have been told in previous D&D novels and adventures where fiends had to wait it out after being defeated, not robbing the protagonists of their victory.

The ability to cast Plane Shift is definitely more about being able to get out of Dodge, at least insofar as combat is concerned. While a Rakshasa could certainly have the same intent as you're describing, they wouldn't be able to just appear back in the thick of things: the destination is described in general terms, not a specific location, except in the case of a unique teleportation circle.

I'm not sure whether I agree with your sentiment about the amount of time required for the restoration to happen. I certainly get the flavor of the fiend seething for months or years to get their revenge, and I think a surprise assassination attempt long after the players have forgotten about their victory could be a cool scenario, but I think most of the time I'd rather the party either slayed the bad guy for good or are incentivized to go after them on their home turf expediently.

Quote from theron >>

Quote from ExplosiveCarnage >>

Nah, the lich can just Eldritch Burst it to death. That is not a spell, so is unaffected by Greater Magic Resistance. Or Paralyzing Touch it and laugh as it gets turned to paste.

If your lich dies to a Rakshasa, it's because it's an idiot.

So even though it is blatantly a spell or at least a magic attack, eldritch burst wouldn't count as a spell because they worded it as just a ranged attack? that is incredibly saddening. By that ruling, does this mean that antimagic field is also useless against any NPC spell caster as well? because if so dear god, just have your lich sit in one of those and laugh at everyone trying to hit him with the equivalent of non-magic sticks while he blasts away.

 Wizards introduced this concept in 2022 as part of Monsters of the Multiverse, and people were up in arms about not being able to Counterspell those things. It was really just about having quick cantrip-like attacks that could be flavored and enhanced in various ways. Most spells are still just spells, so at best we could complain about a Rakshasa not being completely overtuned?

At least with dragons, they specifically are casting spells rather than using these spell-like attacks.

Quote from TempestDichotomy >>

Its baleful command ability makes this even more lethal to spellcasters, as incapacitated drops concentration. Other interesting thing: the only other ability I can think of (I'm probably forgetting about something) that inflicts two debilitating conditions on a single failed save is the tarrasque's roar.

 Interestingly enough, we've had the inverse of that... the Froghemoth, for example, suffers from two debilitating effects when it takes Lightning damage. LOL

Quote from VersusChaos >>

Well. I guess Magic missile work on this new version of him at least. But damn, that version of the magic resistance is so weird. Clearly prefeared old version.

And I liked the way of Rakasha being not real devils anymore, who dont revive in the nine hells when slained, but could make themself pass for more human... Well, i will probably just continue to use my old ruling on this point...

And also, with the new ruling of counterspell, that means he cant get counterspelled even by using a 9th level spell slot....

 Which is probably why they don't have any 9th-level spells. I personally would have to really seriously consider granting a Rakshasa the use of high-level spells, but that's just me. :)

Quote from JasonMartian >>

Quote from ExplosiveCarnage >>

It is not a spell. It does not have spell components, a casting time, a spell level, nada. It is a magical attack I'll grant you, but spell is much more specific than "magic".

Antimagic Field blocks more than just spells. "No one can cast spells, take Magic actions, or create other magical effects inside the aura, and those things can’t target or otherwise affect anything inside it. Magical properties of magic items don’t work inside the aura or on anything inside it."

So Eldritch Burst circumnavigates things like Counterspell and Greater Magic Resistance, but is a magical effect (in my book), so would be effected by Antimagic.

 

 Are you talking about Eldritch Blast? Eldritch Blast is indeed a spell... it is a cantrip. It is found in the spells category, requires a "ranged spell attack" and does have components (V, S). "The spell creates more than one beam when you reach higher levels..." etc. etc. etc.

 The Lich is one of many monsters that has an attack that sounds like and is obviously inspired by a spell while not being a spell. :)

Quote from TakAjnui >>

It's an overall improvement, making them auto succeed instead of straight up immune is better, but it's still such a "f you" to spellcasters that it pretty much isn't playable. and changing it to all spells is just weird - "oh, a 9th level Blade of Disaster or Imprisonment? nah, I'm built different". I get wanting to give them something beside a simple damage attack, but why do you have to give everything AoE's? they're already supposed to be master manipulators that never fight alone, why not choose to reflect that in their abilities.

also, ik this is nitpicking, but the old vulnerability (to Good aligned characters) made for cool roleplay and meaningful lore, while the new one is a niche "oh no! you've read my statblock!" weakness that just doesn't make sense when you actually think about it.

The new version gives a very specific and objective qualification. Alignment is a subjective and malleable construct, and many DMs/players don't even use it.

It would be less about "you've read my statblock" and more about "you did the research to find in-game lore about what you might be able to do against a Rakshasa". :)

Quote from TnTFiddle >>

This monster is so broken it's insulting.  So, a 20th lv cleric wielding a mace couldn't hurt this with physical Or magical attacks, and even if they turned it it would immediately regenerate with a new body at full stats?  Am I missing something here?  This is so overpowered it's disgusting.

It's actually much more in line with its CR. The 2014 version's Hit Points were probably about half what they should have been, and its damage was a joke. This one is basically right where it should be in terms of offense and defense, and it offers a monster that can't just be blasted away by spellcasters... melee characters actually become more useful against something like this.

Reading this, with baleful command, on a save, they don't take damage right? The save is for damage and both effects? A lot of spells the save would prevent half damage and the condition, but failure is the only time there appears to be damage. 

just making sure I have this right before throwing it at my party haha